National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal seems upset with the last week meeting of country’s top businessmen with Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Whether he felt the heat of the much talked about meeting in which businessmen conveyed their ‘concerns’ to General Bajwa or the business community has managed to persuade him, NAB chairman has offered an olive branch which can be termed as ‘NRO’.
While holding a news conference on Sunday, retired Justice Javed Iqbal has announced in black and white that his bureau would no more investigate tax evasion cases.
“None of my bureau’s officer will call any businessman directly,” he explained. Rather, all tax related cases—no matter at which stage of investigation—would be forwarded to Federal Board of Revenue (CBR) for further proceedings.
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Last week, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa met with leading business tycoons who apprised him of their serious concerns over actions taken by the accountability watchdog.
They informed the military chief that business activities have come to a standstill, badly affecting country’s economy. Though, NAB chairman rejected most of the concerns expressed by businessmen community and termed it baseless, he has apparently conceded most of their demands.
Accountability process should be fair but no one should be above this accountability process. Prime Minister Imran Khan has been advancing his campaign to bring maximum people into tax net. FBR chairman Shabbar Zaidi is also determined to achieve tax collection target.
But the announcement made by NAB chairman would dent economic managers’ plan to collect maximum tax from business community. There should not be any victimization but those who fall under tax net should pay their taxes.
“National security is intimately linked to the economy while prosperity is a function of a balance in security needs and economic growth,” army chief was quoted as interacting with businessmen in the meeting.
His statement shows that NAB has limitations.
“None of my bureau’s officer will call any businessman directly”!!!! This statement by him has got lots of hidden meanings.
He said that there won’t be political victimization however, I believe that NAB proceedings have remained only anti N-league.